The Pulse
June 3, 2026

A Whyte Avenue coffee shop has launched a quest board to help young people connect with each other while avoiding pressure to monetize their skills.

"It's meant to be a very low-stakes way to get to know somebody, to get help for something that's been on your list for a while," Atty Vohra, co-founder of Labo Coffee, told Taproot. "That's what a side quest fundamentally is. It's not a main quest, it's not something that's so pivotal to life that it's make-or-break."

A side quest in a video game is an optional, secondary mission outside of the main storyline. "Side quests in real life" have been a trend on social media for a few years now; they've been described as "small, spontaneous adventures that take place outside normal routines."

The idea to add the side quest board to the café came, in part, from a chat Vohra had with a customer who wanted to attend the University of Alberta's library sciences program. Vohra's friend had just gotten into the program, so he connected the two, and the customer was ultimately successful in their own application.

"That happened as a direct consequence of me in that moment serving as a touchpoint for two people, and the quest board is meant to systematize a little bit more," Vohra said.

Vohra was a game designer before opening Labo, and elements of game design have gone into the quest board. Adventurers are those who accept quests, and they earn XP (experience points) for successfully completing them, just like a player would in Skyrim or Fortnite.

When he was in the game industry, Vohra built systems for tracking progress; in other words, a record of effort. Gamification works "because it's fun, it's interesting for people to see their number go up — that's just fundamentally a fun thing for a lot of people to see," he said. But it also allows the café to identify adventurers who have shown they can be trusted or have a track record of taking on a certain type of quest, he said.

So far, quests have included help for the LSAT and other study tips — it is near the university, after all. One that "flew off the board" was a witch's request for herbs in exchange for a tarot card reading. One of the fundamental rules of the board is that the exchange is non-monetary, Vohra said.

• Edmonton's stormwater infrastructure is effectively managing heavy rain, according to EPCOR, despite more than 70 millimetres of rainfall since May 31. Recent flooding near Yellowhead Trail originated from bare soil at a construction site, EPCOR said. Alberta Forestry issued a high streamflow advisory, warning of potential North Saskatchewan River flooding. Residents are advised to avoid stormwater ponds during ongoing rainfall.
• Women and gender-diverse individuals are invited to apply for Camp Inspire, a free, three-day camp hosted by Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, in partnership with Fire Services Women Central Provinces and regional departments from Leduc, Morinville, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Strathcona County, and Sturgeon County, from Sept. 11 to 13. The program allows participants 18 and older to explore firefighting careers through hands-on training with professional firefighters. Applications are open through June 30, with no prior experience required.
• The City of Edmonton is offering tours of its waste management facility as part of Environment Week celebrations for 2026. Residents can learn about waste processing methods, recycling technologies, and environmental impacts during the guided tours. Tours will be conducted at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre, offering a look at the city's efforts in waste reduction and recycling.
• The Alberta government is allocating $125 million over four years to build a new facility for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Edmonton, addressing significant population growth since 1983. The facility is intended to increase capacity for autopsies, improve lab efficiency, and support rapid response in complex cases. An additional $4.4 million is set for upgrading toxicology equipment.
• The Canadian government has invested $22.8 million in Indigenous sport programs, focusing on expanding access to sport and physical activity for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. In Edmonton, $1.2 million will fund three projects led by Indigenous organizations: the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, the Creating Hope Society, and Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. The funding, part of the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities program, covers programming from 2026 to 2028.
• The Edmonton Police Service is seeking a man in connection with a May 10 fire at a business near Commonwealth Stadium, which investigators say was deliberately set. Surveillance footage shows a man in a black Adidas sweater, blue jeans, and black-and-white Adidas shoes, riding an orange Marin mountain bike with a blue trailer. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
• River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch celebrated a major milestone in its plans for a $200-million expansion, which aims to transform it into a "10-minute city." The project focuses on providing amenities and attractions that can all be reached within 10 minutes on foot or by transit. This development is expected to improve the local economy and increase the resort's appeal for both residents and visitors in the region.
• Former Alberta justice Brian O'Ferrall has been appointed as chairman of the electoral boundaries advisory panel by a UCP-majority special committee. The Opposition NDP criticized the move, citing concerns over the limited pool of applicants and their political donations. O'Ferrall, who served more than a decade on Alberta's highest court, donated to the UCP and the Conservative Party.
• The Red Deer Regional Airport experienced a significant surge in air traffic due to a 250% increase in medevac flights, and the opening of a new flight school, CBC News reported. Ashley Reierson with the airport credited a nearly complete $45-million expansion for accommodating the rise in medical transports. Emergency Health Services Alberta said in a statement it is looking into why the number of medical transports at the airport has increased. While discussions about commercial flights at the central Alberta airport continue, they remain unavailable. Instead, cargo operations show potential, given the infrastructure improvements.
• The Edmonton Elks have added defensive back Tyshon Blackburn to the team's practice roster. Blackburn, a Calgary native, previously played two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, participating in 35 games and securing a Grey Cup victory in 2024. He also played four seasons with the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• IDEAS Webinars - Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing starting at 12pm online
• DisruptHR YEG 15.0 starting at 4:30pm at Cineplex Odeon Windermere and VIP Cinemas
• Edmonton Tech Wednesdays starting at 5:30pm at GRETA Bar YEG
• Footloose the Musical starting at 5:30pm at Mayfield Dinner Theatre
• Paul and the Feels starting at 7:30pm at Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts in Leduc
• The Real Group: Live in Edmonton starting at 7:30pm at Allard Hall

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 11: Biodiversity event with Nature Alberta at Rundle Park
• June 13: Housing Is A Human Right: Celebrating 40 years of ECOHH at Alberta Avenue Community Centre
• June 18: ECAMP Curiosity Walking Tours - Strikes, Struggles and Success at Royal Alberta Museum

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

Need a hint for 6-Across? You'll find one here.